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Subject: Health technologies Publication date: All

This document briefly examines some of the research that has been conducted on Ultra Rice. From positive consumer acceptance and nutrient retention studies to impressive efficacy trials on improving vitamin A and iron levels, Ultra Rice has been proven to be an effective, low-cost rice fortification technology.

In 2007, UNICEF asked PATH to conduct a field evaluation of three World Health Organization prequalified reuse-prevention feature syringes used for vaccine reconstitution during a measles campaign on Lombok, Indonesia. The evaluation sought to identify the training and introduction requirements of these syringes and establish an understanding of their acceptability, performance, and safety during field use.

Available on CD-ROM, this interactive tool addresses the Indian regulatory systems for product approval in the areas of drugs, vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics, and biofortified foods. It compares the Indian and US Food and Drugs approval processes; lists key institutions and individuals in India involved in regulatory approvals; lists organizations, committees, and groups that are part of the regulatory system; and provides a database of referenced extracts of key legislations, forms, and templates. This interactive tool allows users to build and analyze various scenarios of product approval applications. Easy-to-navigate and hyperlinked flowcharts provide indicative timelines for approvals, so users can map the various stages in the approval process.

In 2006 and 2007, PATH assessed the acceptability, perception of safety, effect on waste management, and cost implications of using retractable syringes in immunization and curative settings in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. The research included focus group discussions and individual interviews, observations, an anonymous questionnaire, and a spreadsheet-based model to estimate costs, benefits, and cost-effectiveness.

This study assessed the impact of a new sampling device on the performance of a rapid immunochromatographic strip test for chlamydia under development at PATH. The results of endocervical samples collected on flocked swabs were compared to results from those collected with Dacron® swabs. Presented at: 17th Meeting of the International Society for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Research (ISSTDR), July 29, 2007; Seattle, WA

A comparison of the sensitivity and specificity of syndromic management for diagnosis of chlamydia to PCR-based reference methods in a large sample of women in Bolivia. Presented at: International Society for STD Research (ISSTDR), July 26, 2007; Seattle, WA.

In 2006, PATH conducted a field evaluation of three syringe melters temporarily placed in five health centers in Kulon Progo District, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The evaluation assessed the performance of the devices, acceptability by health workers, fit into the existing waste-management system, and potential design modifications. The evaluation demonstrated that, while feasible, the introduction of syringe melting into an existing health care waste management system may require significant shifts in waste-management practices.

As part of the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey 2006, this study collected results of Vitamin A deficiency tests from a representative sample of women aged 15–49 and children aged 6–59 months. Presented at: First International Micronutrient Forum, April 16, 2007; Istanbul, Turkey.

The USAID-funded Prevention of Postpartum Hemorrhage Initiative developed a learning package on the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage consisting of a reference manual, participant’s notebook, and facilitator’s guide. This learning package was developed for use by nurses, midwives, and doctors providing childbirth and immediate postpartum care. Information about implementing active management of the third stage of labor is featured in this reference manual as well as the corresponding participant’s notebook and facilitator’s guide. The reference manuals and facilitators' guides are available as one large file and also in smaller sections for easier downloading.

PATH and Vietnam's National Expanded Program on Immunization pilot tested the use of a needle-remover device in rural Vietnam. This fact sheet reports on health workers' experience that needle removers were easy to operate, safe, and effective for treating contaminated syringes at health centers and in the community.

PATH and the Vietnam Ministry of Health implemented a six-month demonstration project in Huong Khe District, Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam, to assess the acceptability, performance, and impact on waste disposal of a manual needle remover introduced at commune health centers. The results of this demonstration project will enable the Vietnam National Immunization Program to explore alternative methods that may be more effective and appropriate than current practices for managing medical waste at the commune level. This report provides background, methodology, results, discussion, and references associated with an evaluation of the project.

In areas such as Southeast Asia with a high incidence of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B, WHO recommends a birth dose of the vaccine for all children. Hepatitis B vaccine is typically kept refrigerated, within the cold chain. This fact sheet reports on an effort by PATH and Vietnam's National Expanded Program on Immunization to increase coverage rates for the vaccine in Thanh Hoa Province through a new strategy?storing the vaccine outside of the cold chain and using vaccine vial monitors to confirm that the vaccine continued to confer effective protection.

This case study reports on the five-year collaboration between PATH and the Government of Andhra Pradesh, India, as we worked to find solutions for appropriate, legal, and effective solutions for disposing of immunization waste from Andhra Pradesh?s 1,400 primary health centers and 12,500 health subcenters.

This paper focuses on PATH's product introduction activities. It also outlines the lessons learned and principles used to measure the impact of our efforts to reach underserved populations and improve global health.